Coleman Clinches Southern Tour Final

Coleman, 39, captured his first BASS win with 36 pounds, 10 ounces of spotted bass, a three-day total that was nearly 3 pounds more than his closest competitor, Mathew Wilbanks of Gainesville, Ga.

"This is just incredible," said Coleman. "I never thought I would have won with what I caught today." His Saturday catch was 8-5, but his 28-5 weight over the first two days of the tournament carried him through to earn about $25,000 in cash and a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard worth $45,000.

Coleman said he caught his five-fish limit by drop-shotting with a Spotsticker prototype worm made by D&G Spotsticker Baits. He said he concentrated on standing timber about 40 feet down.

The Lake Lanier stop was the final of five events on the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Southern Tour.